Multiple pluggable unit



July 10, 1956 R. D. MCNUTT ET AL MULTIPLE PLUGGABLE UNIT Filed May 27, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 I I I l 1 1 1 11 I 1 1 1 1 1 l za l'o "/O! !22 "8 -nn| ""I- z 6 ZJLQJI'JU HJWHgo/jl 1111111111 '211111111 0 'f 36 W "1 2? 1"'1 1. W 15 F7 LH LF] 34 INVENTORS ROBERT D. MC NUTT EDWARD J. GARVEY ATTORNEY July 10, 1956 R. D. MCNUTT ErAL MULTIPLE PLUGGABLE UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27. 1952 F IG. 2

wmmmwmmm w LM W e mmmmmmm r wm m 6 O4. |M 93 /GJ z 5 6 'Imul f/ ml' 2 8 m my INVENTORS ROBERT D. MC NUTT 52 nas July 10, 1956 R. D. McNu'rT ETAL MULTIPLE PLUGGABLE UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed lay 27, 1952 INVENTORS ROBERT D. MC NUTT B EDWAR D J. GARVEY Yd/ M/W ATTORNEY United States Patent O MULrn'LE PLUGGABLE UNIT Robert D. McNutt, Wappinger Falls, and Edward J. Garvey, Binghamton, N. Y., assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a Corporation of New York Application May 27, 1952, Serial No. 290,142

17 Claims. (Cl. 317-101) This invention relates to a pluggable unit for supporting electronic circuit components. More particularly, the invention relates to a unit for supporting electrical components associated with a plurality of electronic tubes.

It is accordingly an important object of the invention to provide a unit having spaced terminals providing means for the inter-spacial connection of electrical components associated with a plurality 1of electronic tubes.

it is a further important object of the invention to provide a unit of the kind indicated which has improved means for effecting engagement between the contact pins thereof with contact pin sockets and for maintaining such engagement.

The first objective of the invention is achieved by providing a pluggable unit structure having a head plate in which are mounted a plurality of electron tube sockets, each socket having a plurality of generally parallel terminals extending therefrom. Spaced from the head plate is a base member in which is mounted a second set of terminals with an end of each terminal extending from opposite faces of the base member, thereby providing space in which electrical components may be connected between the respective, spaced terminals. The head plate and the base member are maintained in fixed, spaced relation by means of a pair of posts interconnecting the head plate and the base member. Intermediate said members one or more component connector plates embrace the post members in such manner that the component connector plate or plates may be adjustably secured at selected points along the length of the posts.

The second stated objective of the invention contemplates a pluggable unit having an elongated base member with a plurality of aligned contact pins extending from the face thereof in combination with an elongated socket member having a plurality of aligned pin sockets in one face thereof corresponding generally to the contact pins of the base member. This combination has cooperative means for aligning the contact pins in longitudinal offset relation with their related pin sockets, and means for relatively shifting the base member and the socket member in a longitudinal direction for engaging the pins and their related pin sockets in electrical contact. A latch is provided for holding the base member and the socket member after the same have been relatively shifted to bring the contact pins and the pin sockets into engagement With each other.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a separable electrical connector having a plurality of aligned contact pins adapted to engage a corresponding plurality of aligned pin sockets and in which the relative spacing of certain of the pin sockets is such in regard to the spacing of the contact pins that certain of the contact pins will engage their respective pin sockets before contact between other of the contact pins and their respective pin sockets.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide improved means for grounding the pluggable unit herein to a supporting frame structure whereby a ground connection is eifected prior to engagement between the contact pins of the unit and their respective pin sockets, and Whereby such ground connection is maintained until after the contact pins and their respective pin sockets have been fully disengaged.

Other purposes, objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description thereof proceeds in connection with the drawings forming a part of the application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a pluggable unit according to the invention herein;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a pair of pluggable units mounted on a frame member, parts being broken away to show underlying structure;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially on line 3-3 of Fg. 2;

Pig. 4 s a perspective view along somewhat more than half the length of a pluggable unit, certain parts having been omitted to more clearly show essential details of the structure;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a section of a socket member corresponding to the unit member of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a dagrammatic view of a plurality of contact pins and a plurality of associated pin sockets which illustrates the manner in which the pins and the pin sockets are adapted to engage each other, and whereby engagement between some pins and their respective pin sockets may be effected prior to engagement between the remaining pins and their respective pin sockets.

The pluggable unit structure herein comprises a metallic head plate 10, which is of sufiicient width to accommodate a tube socket 12. The head plate is of generally elongated structure and has a pair of parallel, downwardly extending, marginal flanges 14 along the longitudinal edges thereof.

The head plate 10 is of such length as to accommodate the desired number of electron tube sockets in generally equally spaced array along the length thereof. The unit herein illustrated is sufiiciently long to accommodate four tube sockets, although the length of the unit and the number of tube sockets may be varied to satisfy the demands of the mechanism in which the unit is to be employed.

The tube socket herein employed has a collar or flange 16 by means of which the tube socket is mounted in the head plate 10. The head plate is suitably apertured to accommodate the generally cylindrical neck 18 of the socket. The socket is then inserted into the head plate aperture until the fiange or collar 16 abuts the inner face of the head plate. A securing clip in the form of an annulus 20 having a pair of upstanding ears 22 is adapted to engage the underside of the tube socket flange 16, the ears passing through appropriate slots in the head plate where they are bent over into contact with the outer face of the head plate for securing the tube socket against displacement.

Each tube socket has a plurality of metallic contact inserts terminating in generally parallel terminals 24 beyond the base of the socket. The terminals 24 provide a point of connection for circuit components to be associated With an electron tube.

Spaced from the head plate 10 is a base member 26 which in this illustrative embodiment is preferably substantially as long and as wide as the head plate 10. A second set of terminals 28 is mounted along the base member in spaced relation to each other. The terminals 28 are mutually insulated from each other by virtue of the fact that they are molded into the base member which is composed of a suitable moldable, non-conductive material. Each of the terminals 28 comprise a connecting lug 30 extending from the inner face of the base member 26 and a contact blade or pin 32 which extends from the opposite face of the base member. The terminals 28 are preferably disposed in parallel rows along opposite longitudinal edges of the base member.

The head plate 1% and the base member 26 are maintained in spaced relation to each other by means of a pair of spacing posts 34, to the ends of which the head plate and the base member 26 are affnred by means of a shaft 3d extending along the axis of the spacing posts. The shaft 36 has an upper screw-threaded end which erztends through the head plate lt) for the reception of a nut 3b. The opposite end of the shaft 3'5 has a threaded socket for the reception of a screw by means of which the base member 26 is attached.

In order to facilitate the inter-spacial connection of circuit components in the space intervening between the first set of terminals 24. and the second set of terminals 28, there is provided herein one or more component connector plates do. These plates have apertures 40a to accommodate the spacing po-sts 34. The component connector plates 40 correspond generally in length and width to the head plate iii and base member 26, and consist of a base strip of thin, insnlating material. Arranged along the opposite, longitudinal edges of the component connector base strip are metallic connector lugs 42.. Herein the connector lngs 42 are interconnected by strips 44 adapted to be Vseveredt for the purpose of electrically isolating individual lugs or groups thereof.

In order that the component connector plate or plates may be adjustably secured at selected points along the length of the posts 34, the confronting faces of the posts 34 have therein a plurality of spaced, transverse slots do adapted to receive the inner wall of the post receiving apertures 40a of the plates. In order to permit engagement and disengagement of the plates dt) with the slots 46, the plates 4h have a resilient characteristic. cordingly by fiexing the component connector plates, the engaged wall of the post receiving aperture may be disengaged from a post slot 46, thus permitting a plate to be moved into engagement with another post slot. The post receiving apertures of the plates 40 are larger in the longitudinal direction than the same cross-sectional area of the posts. The space between component connector plates or a component connector plate and either of the sets of terminals may, therefore, be adjusted to accommodate longer or shorter circuit components.

The complete assembly herein includes not only the component supporting unit but also a socket member 48. The socket member 4% is an element molded of suitable insulating material, and has located therein connectors 50 which are adapted to engage the contact pins or blades 32. In the form illustrated herein the socket member 48 has two parallel roWs of connector elements Whereof each connector element is mutually insulated from each other and whereof the rows are disposed along the longitudinal edges of the socket member.

The connector elements 50 are generally elongated to provide a connecting lug 52 which extends from one face of the socket member to provide for convenient connection into the circuit of the machine in which the unit is to be employed. The opposite end of each connector 50 provides a contact blade or pin socket 54 which is composed of a pair of oppositely disposed spring fingers 56 and 58, each of these being curved outwardly to provide a laterally disposed entrance for the reception of a correspondin'J contact pin 32. Each contact pin socket 54 of the connector elements is recessed in a contact pin socket recess 6b formed in the face of the socket strip 48.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings it will be noted that the spring fingers 56 and 58 of the pin sockets 54 are not quite as wide as the connector portion 50. This results in a pin socket structure that is slightly offset in respect to one vertical edge of the connector 50.

In the manufacture of the device it is preferable that the terminals 23 be incorporated in the base member 26 when the base member is molded. Contrary to this' practice,

however, the socket member 48 is molded With a slot extending through the base of the pin socket recesses 6G to permit the subsequent insertion of the connectors 50. Since the spring ingers 56 and S8 constituting the pin socket 54- are located in an offset position in respect to the body of the connectors 5%, it will be seen that the position of the pin socket 54 in its pin socket recess 60 may be adjusted in a longitudinal direction in reference to the socket member 48 by selectively facing the connectors 5d in one direction or the other when inserting the connectors in their socket member slots. This is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings wherein the first connector at the left is faced in one direction, while the two connectors to the right are faced in the opposite direction. With the pin sockets of the connectors selectively located as suggested in Fig. 6 and with the terminals 28 spaced equal distances from each other, it will be apparent that contact between one or more of the terminals' 28 and their respective pin sockets 54 may be effected just prior to the closure of contact between the remaining contact pins and their respective pin sockets.

ln electrical devices, and particularly in electronic devices in which the present invention is useful, it is frequently desirable, and indeed sometimes necessary, that certain circuits be completed before other circuits are completed. The selective arrangernent of the connectors 50 in the socket molding 48 as described hereinabove provides a convenient structure by which this function may be attained. i

Since the connectors St) are inserted into the base slots of their respective pin socket recesses od, there has been provided herein means in the connectors themselves to securely lock such connectors in the socket member 48 upon insertion of the pin into its receiving slot. The connector at the left in Fig. 6 of' the drawings shows one side of a connector structure, while the two connectors to the right show the opposite side.

In that connector on the left of Pig. 6 is shown an upwardly extending tongue Sa formed in the connector body for rotation about the line 5% at which the tongue is joined with the connector body. The tongue Son may be bent outwardly along the line Sfb to provide a latch i for the connector when it is inserted into its socket siot.

The action of the tongue can be seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings wherein the free end of the tongue of four such connectors is shown to abut the base wall of the connector grooves in the socket member lh. By this expedient, the connectors are securely held in the socket member, for when the tongue Sfa is in engagement with the socket member groove as shown in Fig. 3, the pin sockets 54 are in engagement with the bottom wall of the pin socket recesses 6%. Removal of a connector 59 from the socket member is, however, not at all precluded because the finger 50a may be bent inwardly so that the connector may be withdrawn from its receiving slot.

As intimated hereinbefore, contact between the pins or blades 32 and the pin sockets 54 is effected by a lateral or relatively longitudinal movement between the base 26 and the socket 43. Accordingly there has been provided means in the socket member for aligning the pins 32 in longitudinal offset relation in respect to the pin sockets 54. Each socket recess 6d is divided from the other by a wall having therein a slot 62. The slots 62 are in aiignmentwith the contact pin sockets 54, and accordingiy constitute means for aligning the pins 32 With the contact pin sockets prior to engaging the pinsiand sockets in electrical contact. Accordingly in order to effect an electrical contact between the pins 32 and the sockets 54, it is merely necessary to enterthe pins 32 into their respective slots 62 and thereafter move thebase 26 andrthe socket 43 relative to each other in a longitudinal direction sufficient to bring the blades'32 into contact between the blades 56 and 58.

In order that connection between the base elements and the socket elements may be facilitated, there has been provided 'on the socket member 48 a guide block 64 which is adapted to register with the walls of a guide slot 66 formed in one edge of the base member 26. The distance between the oppositely dispos'ed slot walls 68 and 70 is only slightly greater than the distance between end faces 72 and 74 of the guide block 64. Therefore, when the guide slot 66 is brought into embracing position with the guide block 64, the slot Walls 68 and 70 will cooperate with the end faces 72 and 74 to position the base 26 in slightly offset position in a longitudinal direction in respect to the socket member 48. In this initial position of registration which is best shown at the right in Fig. 2 of the drawings', the pins or blades 32 of the base member are in the slots 62 of the socket member. Thereafter, relative movement between the base 26 and the socket 48 in a longitudinal direction will effect secure contact of the contact pins or blades 32 in their respective contact pin socket 54.

The relative, longitudinal movement between the base 26 and the socket member 48 necessary to effect electrical contact between the contact pins and the contact pin sockets is rendered possible by the fact that the guide block wall '74 is undercut as shown at 76 in Fig. of the drawings, thus constituting the wall 74 a shoulder which is adapted, upon relative, longitudinal movement between the base 26 and the socket 48, to enter a notch 78 in the end wall of the guide slot 66 of the base. To further insure that the base 26 and the socket 48 are properly connected, the inner, longitudinal wall of the guide slot 66 is formed with an outwardly extending offset 80 which is adapted to register with a corresponding recess 82 extending through the end wall '72 of the guide block 64.

When the contact pins or blades 32 and the contact pin sockets 54 are shif'ted into electrical contact, the shouldered wall 74 of the guide block 64 will lie within the notch 78 of the base guide slot 66. Accordingly, the structure just described also constitutes a means for securely holding the pins or blades 32 and the contact pin sockets 5l4 in contact with each other without any danger of inadvertent separati'on. In a structure in which a large number of contact pins are -in engagement with resilient pin sockets, the aggregate pressure exerted by such pin sockets on their respective pins has a distino't tendency to cause a separation of the contact elements. This is particularly marked in such structures wherein the contact pins are entered into their respective sockets in an axial direotion. Herein the disadvantage ha-s been entirely eliminated by the fact that contact is made in a lateral direotion, i. e. by moving the base 26 and the socket member 48 relatively in a longitudinal directilon. Engagement of the shouldered wall 74 of the guide block 64 with the notch 78 in the wall 70 of the guide slot 66 further adds to the security of the electrical connection Ibetween the pins or blades 32 and their respective pin sockets 54.

One of the features of this invention involves means for relatively shifting the base member 26 and the socket member 48 in a longitudinal direotion for engaging the pins with their respective pin sockets. By reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that there has been provided herein a metallic operating cam 84 which extends from the contact pin bearing face of the base member 26. The Operating cam 84 is adap'ted -to engage the walls 86 of a recess 88 in one face of the socket member 48. The cam 84 is fixed to the end of a metallic shaft 90 which has a be'aring area 92 mounted for rotation in the base molding 26. The actuating cam 84 as best seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings is eccentrically mounted on the shaft 90, and since 'the periphery of the actuating cam 84 is in contact with the side walls 86 of the recess 88, it follows that rotation of the cam 84 in contact with the side walls 86 will cause rela'tive, longitudinal movement between the base 26 and the socket 48. This movement herein, in one direotion of rotation, is just suficient to cause displacement of the pins or blades 32 from the socket slots 62 in which they are initially positioned and into contact with their respective pin sockets 54.

The holding function of the shoulder wall 74 of the guide block 64 has been described. It remains to be mentioned, however, that the cam 84 itself exercises a substantial locking action when it is rotated to connect the base member 26 and the socket member 48. By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that in the extreme rotative position of the cam 84, the point of greatest eccentrici'ty thereof will lie in the 'longitudinal center line of the socket member 48 which passes through the axis of the cam shaft 92. Thus, when the cam 84 is rotated to inter-engage the base member 26 and the socket member 48, there is no leverage against which relative longitudinal movement between the base member 26 and the socket member 48 may operate that would tend to rotate the cam 84 into a release position.

In practical application the base 26 and any components appended thereto is moved in relation to the socket member 48 because ordinarily the position of the socket member 48 will be fiXed. Herein the guide block 64 of each socket has a through passage 94 which is adap'ted to receive a bolt 96 by means of which the socket 48 may be attached to a bracket 98. It is contemplated that each installation may involve the use of a plurality of socket supporting brackets 98 disposed in spaced relation and parallel to each other on a frame structure 100. In order to facilitate location of the socket elements for support on a pair of spaced brackets 98, the socket molding has a pair of Shoulders 102 and 104 which are adap'ted to engage a pair of supporting brackets.

For convenience of manipulation the cam Operating rod extends upwardly through the head plate 10 where the upper end may be provided with a slot 106 for convenient engagement with a suitable turning tool. To limit 'the rotary movement of the rod 90, there has been provided a stop pin 108 which extends laterally from the Operating rod 90 at a point immediately above the head plate 10. The stop .pin 108 is adapted to engage a pair of ears 110 and 112 that are upstruck from the face of the head plate 10. These ears are located in diametrically opposite position so that rotation of the rod 90 is limited to 180. An insulatinL7 sleeve 114 surrounds that portion of the Operating rod 90 which extends between the head plate 10 and 'the base molding 26.

In order to ground the unit there is provided a metal grounding clip 116 which is adapted |to lie in the base of the socket recess 88. The grounding clip 116 is fianged to provide a free end 118 adapted to contact one of the metallic mounting brackets 98. The socket contacting portion of the grounding clip 116 is preferably bowed upwardly just slightly |to insure contact with the actuating cam 84 prior to any contact between the pins 32 and their respective pin sockets. By the same token, contact between the Operating cam 84 and the grounding clip 116 is also maintained until pin and socket contact is broken. When the base member 26 and the socket member 48 are in assembled relation, the pressure of the cam 84 will to a degree fiatten the grounding clip 116. However, the parts are so pnoportioned that the clip is not fully pressed against the base of the socket recess 88. Binding of the parts is thereby avoided.

'Figs 2 and 3 of the drawing will best illus'trate the manner in which a plurality of units may be mounted on adjacent mounting brackets. In this regard it may be noted that each guide block 64 has a longitudinal undercut forming a shoulder 120 which is adapted to engage the peripheral area of the base socket recess 88 of an adjacent socket member. Thereby, each socket member is held in position by means of a substantial two point contact. The socket member or members at one edge of a plurality of such members in an assembly on a frame 100 is secured by a clamp block 122 which in form and 7 V in Vits Vsecuring function is the same as one of the guide blocks 64.

While a specific form of instrumentalities employed in the device has been 'described for purpose of illnstration, it is contempla'ted t-ha't numerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A pluggable unit for supporting electronic circuit components, comprising, a head plate, a plurality of tube sockets mounted in said head plate, a plurality of generally parallel terminals extending from each of said sockets, a base member, a second set of terminals mounted in said base member with an end of each thereof extending from opposite faces of said base member, a pair of posts interconnecting said head plate and said base member in spaced relation to each other, a plurality of component connector plates embracing said posts, and means for adjustably securing said plates at selected points along the length of said posts.

2. A pluggable unit for supporting electronic circuit components, comprising, an elongated head plate, a plurality of tube sockets mounted in alignment in said head plate, a plurality of generally parallel terminals extending from each of said sockets, an elongated base member, a second set of terminals mounted in said base member With an end of each thereof extending from opposite 'faces of said base member, a pair of posts interconnecting said head plate and said base member in spaced relation to each other, a plurality of elongated component connector plates embracing said posts, connecting lugs disposed along edges of said connector plates, and means for adjnstably securing said plates at selected points along the length of said posts.

3. A pluggable unit for supporting electronic circuit components, comprising, a head plate, a plurality of tube sockets mounted in said head plate, a plurality of generally parallel terminals extending from each of said sockets, a base member, a second set of terminals mounted in said base member With an end of each thereof extending from oppositc faces of said base member, a pair of posts interconnecting said head plate and said base member in spaced relation to each other, a plurality of component connector plates embracing said posts, and a plurality of spaced slots in confronting faces of said posts for adjustably securing said plates along the length of said posts.

4. A pluggable nnit for supporting electronic circuit components, comprising, a head plate, a plurality of genof tube sockets mounted said head plate, a plurality of generally parallel terminals extending from each of said sockets, a base member, a second set of terminals mounted in said base member with an end of each thereof extending from opposite faces of said base member, a pair of posts interconnecting said head plate and said base member in spaced relation to each other, a plurality of resilient component connector plates embracing 'said posts, and a plurality of spaced slots in confronting faces of said posts for adjustably securing said plates at selected points along the length of said posts.

5. A pluggable unit for supporting electronic circuit components, comprising, an elongated head plate, a plurality of tube sockets mounted in alignment in said head plate, a plurality of generally parallel terminals extending from each of said sockets, an elongated base member, a second set of terminalsrmounted in said base member with an end of each thereof Vextending from opposite faces of said base member, a pair of posts interconnecting said head plate and said base member in spaced relation to each other, a plurality of elonated component Vconnector plates embracing said posts, connecting lugs disposed `along the longitudinal edges of said connector plates, and a plurality of spaced slots in confront'mg faces of said posts'for adjustablysecuring said plates at ,selected points along the length ofsaid posts.

'6. A 'separable mounting means for electrical components, comprising, a base member having a plurality of aligned contact pins extending from a face thereof, a socket member having a plurality of aligned pin sockets, a slot between each of said pin sockets, means in said socket member for guiding said contact pins into said slots in an axial direction and for aligning said pins in offset relation with said pin sockets, an Operating cam extending from the contact pin bearing face of said base member, a recess in said socket member having walls engageable by said Operating cam, and means for rotating said cam into contact With said recess walls for relatively shifting said base member and said socket member for laterally engaging said pins and said pin sockets in electrical contact.

7. A separable mounting means for electrical components, comprising, an elongated base member having a plurality of aligned contact pins extending from a face thereof, an elongated `socket member having a plurality of aligned pin sockets, a slot between each of said pin sockets, means in said socket member for guiding said contact pins into said slots in an axial direction and for aligning said pins in longitudinal offset relation with said pin sockets, and means for relatively shifting said base member and said socket member in a longitudinal direction for laterally engaging said pins and said pin sockets in electrical contact.

8. A separable mounting means for electrical components, comprising, an elongated base member having a plurality of aligned contact pins extending from a face thereof, an elongated socket member having a plurality of aligned pin sockets, a slot between each of said pin sockets, means in said socket member for guiding said contact pins into said slots in an axial direction and for aligning said pins in longitudinal offset relation with said pin sockets, means for relatively shifting said base member and said socket member in a Vlongitudinal direction for laterally engaging said pins and said pin sockets in electrical contact, a guide block on said socket member, and a guide slot in said base member adapted to engage said guide block whereby said contact pins are guided into contact with said pin sockets.

9. A separable mounting means for electrical components, comprising, an elongated base lmember having a plurality of aligned contact pins extending from a face thereof, an elongated socket member having a plurality of aligned pin sockets, a slot between each of said pin sockets, means in said socket member for guiding said contact pins into said slots in an axial direction and for aligning said pins in longitudinal ofiset relation With said pin sockets, means for relatively shifting said base member and said socket member in a longitudinal direction for laterally engaging said pins and said pin sockets in electrical contact, and means for latching said base member to said socket member upon relative longitudinal shifting movement therebetween.

10. A lseparable mounting means for electrical components, comprising, an elongated base member having a plurality of aligned contact pins extending from a face thereof, an elongated socket member having a plurality of aligned pin sockets, a slot between each of said pin sockets, means in said socket member for guiding said contact pins into said slots in an axial direction and for aligning said pins in longitudinal offset relation with said pin sockets, an Operating cam extending from the contact pin bearing face of said base member, a recess in said socket member having walls engageable by said Operating cam, and means for rotating said cam into contact with said recess walls for vrelatively shifting said base member and said socket ;member in a longitudinal `direction for laterally engaging said pins and said pin sockets in electrical contact.

11. A separable mounting means for Velectrical cornponents, comprising, an elongated base member having a plurality .of aligned contactpins extending .from a :face thereof, an elongated socket member having a plurality .of aligned pin .sockets, ,a slot between .each of .Said pin sockets, means for guiding said contact pins into said slots in an axial direction and for aligning said pins in longitudinal offset relation with said pin sockets, a cam device for relatively shifting said base member and said socket member in a longitudinal direction for laterally engaging said pins and said pin sockets in electrical contact, and means for latching said base member to said socket member upon relative longitudinal shifting movement of said members in One direction under the infiuence of said cam device.

12. A separable mounting means for electrical components, comprising, an elongated base member having a plurality of aligned contact pins extending from a face thereof, an elongated socket member having a plurality of aligned pin sockets, a slot between each of said pin sockets, means for guiding said contact pins into said slots in an axial direction and for aligning said pins in longitudinal offset relation with said pin sockets, an operating cam extending from the contact bearing face of said base member, a recess in said socket member having walls engageable by said Operating cam, a shaft extending through said base member for rotating said cam into contact with said recess walls for relatively shifting said base member and said socket member in a longitudinal direction for laterally engaging said pins and said pin sockets in electrical contact, and means for latching said base member to said socket member upon relative longitudinal shifting movement of said members in one direction under the influence of said cam device.

13. A separable mounting means for electrical components, comprising, a base member having a plurality of contact pins extending from a face thereof, a socket member having a plurality of pin sockets adapted to engage said contact pins, a slot between each of said pin sockets, means for guiding said pins into said slots in an axial direction, a metallic Operating cam extending from the contact pin bearing face of said base member, a recess in said socket member having walls engageable by said Operating cam, a metallic grounding element in said recess adapted for contact with said Operating cam before engagement of said pins with said pin sockets, and metallic means for rotating said cam into contact with said recess walls for relatively shifting said base member and said socket member for laterally engaging said pins and said pin sockets in electrical contact.

14. Mounting means for electrical components, comprising, a metallic head plate, a base member spaced from said head plate and having a plurality of contact pins extending from a face thereof, a socket member having therein a plurality of pin sockets, a slot between each of said pin sockets, means for guiding said pins into said slots in an axial direction, a metallic Operating cam extending from the contact pin bearing face of said base member, a recess in said socket member having walls engageable by said Operating cam, a metallic, upwardly bowed, resilient, grounding element in said re' cess adapted to establish contact with said Operating cam before engagement of said pins with said pin sockets and maintain engagement therebetween until after disengagement of said pin and pin socket, and a metallic shaft 10 extending between said Operating cam and said head plate for rotating said cam into contact with said recess walls for relatively shifting said base member and said socket member for laterally engaging and disengaging said pins and said pin sockets.

15. Mounting means for electrical components, comprising, a base member having a plurality of contact pin elements extending from a face thereof, a socket member having a plurality of pin socket elements therein, the elements of one of said plurality being equally spaced from each other and some of the elements of the Other plurality being unequally spaced from each other, and means for relatively shifting said base member and said socket member in a longitudinal direction for laterally engaging said pins and said pin sockets in electrical contact, whereby the contacts of one of said pluralities will be engaged before those of the other.

16. Mounting means for electrical components, comprising, a base member having a plurality of aligned contact pins extending from a face thereof, a socket member having a plurality of aligned pin sockets, the contact pins in said base member being equally spaced from each other and some of the pin sockets in said socket member being unequally spaced from each other, and means for relatively shifting said base member and said socket member in a longitudinal direction for laterally engaging said pins and said pin sockets in electrical contact, whereby the unequally spaced pin sockets in said socket member will be engaged by contact pins of the base member before engagement between others thereof.

17. Mounting means for electrical components, comprising, an elongated base member having a plurality of aligned contact pins extending from a face thereof at equal intervals along its length, an elongated socket member having a plurality of aligned pin sockets, the space between some of said pin sockets being equal to the space between said contact pins and the space between Other of said pin sockets being greater than the space between said contact pins, and means for relatively shifting said base member and said socket member in a longitudinal direction for laterally engaging said pins and said pin sockets in electrical contact, whereby the unequally spaced pin sockets in said socket member will be engaged by contact pins of the base member before engagement between others thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,028,717 Hayden Jan. 21, 1936 2,056,361 Mills Oct. 6, 1936 2,329,464 Gaynor Sept. 14, 1943 2,427,745 Roger-Petit Sept. 23, 1947 2,474,988 Sargrove July 5, 1949 2,577,955 Dixon Dec. 11, 1951 2,579,141 Eckert Dec. 18, 1951 2,595,658 Hasselhorn May 6, 1952 2,599,695 Christensen June 10, 1952 2,637,763 Palmer May 5, 1953 

